Electrical connecter



Aug. 30, 1932. J. M. GRIBBIE ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Dec. 15. 1929 h;@fw

Patented 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. GRIIBBIE, orCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'ro SHAKEPROOF LOCK WASHER COMPANY, orCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPLRATION or DELAWARE ELECTRICAL CONNECTERApplication filed December 13, 1929. Serial No. 413,739.

My invention relates generally to electrical connecter-s or terminalsbut more particularly to terminals for use with impressionableinsulating materials or other materials of like nature.

In the electrical field and particularly in the manufacture of radioapparatus, it is sometimes desired to secure elements in position uponsheets of insulating material such .10 as fiber by means of annularrivets. These jected to forces while in use which would have a tendencyto overcome the clamping action of'a rivet or other suitable clampingmeans and thereby cause said terminal to be displaced.

It is one of the primary objects of my present invention to provide aterminal or connecter construction which will avoid any tendency forconnecters or terminals to become displaced and to this end I propose toprovide a connecter from flat stock of very simple construction, whichwill become firmly imbedded within the insulating material with which itis associated when a rivet or other fastening means is clampedthereagainst.

More specifically my invention contemplates the provision of a connecteras above set forth, having a plurality of teeth positioned wholly withinthe plane of the connecter stock, said teeth being so constructed andarranged that when the pressure of the rivet is applied thereto, saidteeth will become firmly imbedded within the insulating material andthereby positively prevent said connecter from being displaced.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a connecter with aplurality of teeth which need not be hardened in order to render thesame lockingly effective and to this end I propose to provide aconnecter in whlch the teeth are so arranged that the same may bedeflected when a rivet is tightened thereagainst and in which cut-outsare provlded to permit insulating material to be forced into lockingengagement with said teeth.

My invention further contemplates the provision of an electricalconnecter having work engaging teeth which are not twisted or otherwisewarped out of the plane of the connecter stock but which may be formedby a simple blanking out method, the teeth bemg such that when the sameare pressed against the work, such as fibroid or other suitableinsulating material, said teeth will become firmly lodged within saidmaterial.

These and numerous other objects and advantages will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description when considered n connectionwith the accompanying drawmg, wherein:

Figure 1 discloses a connecter embodying my invention, the same beingshown in comlination with a cylindrical insulating mem- Figure 2 is anenlarged fragmentary view of the portion of the connecter in Figure 1which is provided with a plurality of work engaging teeth;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theline 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the connectershown in Figure 1, the rivet associated therewith being broken away todisclose the position of the connecter teeth;

Figure 5 is a transvese sectional view taken substantially along theline 5-5 of Figure 4 disclosing the manner in which the connecter teethmay be pressed into the insulating material in response to the clampingaction of the rivet;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 disclosing the manner in which arivet having a comparatively wide flange, may be used in associationwith my improved connecter; and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theline 77 of Figure 6 disclosing the manner in which the insulatingmaterial may be forced into the spaces between the connecter teeth.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail wherein like numerals havebeen employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures,it will be observed that one embodiment of my invention contemplates theprovision of a connecter which I have designated generally by thenumeral 10. This connecter or terminal 10 includes a shank 12 which isformed'at one extremity with an aperture 14 to receive an electricalconductor 16. The opposite extremity of the shank 12 is provided with abody portion or section 18 having a central aperture 20. Spaced alongthe inner margin of the section 18 is a plurality of teeth 22 which areseparated by cut-outs or spaces 24. It is to be noted that these teeth22 are positioned wholly within the plane of the connecter stock asclearly shown in Figure 3.

In order to illustrate one practical plication of my invention I havedisclosed the connecter 10 in operative association with a cylinder 26which comprises a sheet of insulating material 28 such as fiber or thelike which has an impressionable surface. That is to say, the insulatingmaterial 28 is suiticicntly rigid to serve as a mounting for a coil 30but is impressionable to such a degree that the teeth 22 of theconnecter may be readily forced into the material or said material maybe readily forced into the spaces 24 which separate said teeth. Inmounting the connecter 10 upon the cylindrical sheet of insu latingmaterial 28, a rivet 32 is inserted within the aperture '20 of theconnecter and through a registering aperture 34, Figures 4 and 5 in theinsulating material 28. The flange 36 of the rivet 32 is clamped againstthe connecter teeth 22 and the flange 38 of the rivet is clampeddirectly against the insulating material. It is to be noted that theexternal diameter of the flange 36 of the rivet shown in Figures 1, 4and 5 is less than the diameter of the circle whose circumference iscoincident with the roots of the teeth 22. Thus, when the flange 36 ispressed against the teeth 22, said teeth will be forced into the softermaterial 28. Obviously, if the connecter stock is sufliciently rigid,and the insulating material 28 sufficiently impressionable, the clampingaction of the rivet may cause material 28 to be forced into the cutouts24 and the teeth 22 subjected to little, if any, deflection. In someinstances, depending u on the relative structural characteris tics o theconnecter stock and the insulating material, both the teeth 22 and theinsulating material may be subjected to displacement. In other words,the teeth 22 may be forced or pressed into the insulating material andsaid insulating material may also be forced into the spaces 24. In anyinstance, the interlocking of the teeth and the softer insulatingmaterial in response to the clamping action of the rivet, will serve tosecurely mount the connecter 10 in position upon the memberor cylinder26. In certain classes of electrical goods such as radio equipment, itis very desirable to have. the connecter project beyond the margin ofthe insulating material and to have said connecter maintained in avertical or horizonal fixed position. The interlocking of the teeth 22with the work or insulating material positively insures the connecteragainst lateral displacement.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, it will be observed that I have disclosedthe manner in which my improved connecter may be effectively employedwith rivets having flanges of relatively large diameter. In thesefigures l have shown a rivet 3211. which is provided with flanges 36aand 38a. It will be noted that the [Binge 36a is greater in diameterthan the circle which is coincident with the roots of the teeth 22.Thus, the pressure of the flange 36.0 against the teeth would not have atendency to cause the teeth to be deflected but the clamping action ofthe flange 380 against the insulating material would be such as to causesaid material to be forced into the spaces or cut-outs 24. In thismanner the teeth 22 would serve to effectively secure the connecter inpositionwithout being deflected out of the plane of the connecter stock.

From the foregoing it will be understood that my invention contemplatesthe provision of terminals or connectors of extremely simpleconstruction which may be expeditiously formed from inexpensive flatstock. Heretofore in using terminals provided with twisted or warpedlocking teeth in connection with terminal binding posts and the like, ithas been customary to form these connecters from sheet material such asphosphor bronze and the like in order to lend suflicient rigidity to theteeth. In other words, by using material such as bronze, the lockingteeth which are twisted or warped out of the plane of the stock will besufficiently rigid to withstand the clamping action of a terminal nutand will dig into the metallic stock so as to secure the parts againstloosening. My present invention however enables a terminal member orconnecter to be produced from material which is much cheaper andconsiderably softer than phosphor bronze because the above mentionedrigid tooth construction is not required. In fact, the connecter teethmay be sufficiently pliable to enable the same to be bent and forcedinto the surface of the insulating material in response to the clampingaction of the rivet. It will thus be apparentthat my invention isparticularly applicable for use in connection with relatively soft sheetmaterial such as fiber or other impressionable insulating materials.\Vhile I have disclosed one particular application of the invention forillustrative purposes, it will be understood that said invention iscapable of many other uses and should only be limited by the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A terminal member having an aperture for receiving a clamping member,and a work engaging tooth positioned at the apertured end of saidterminal, said tooth being positioned wholly within the plane of theterminal stock and adapted, when clamped against impressionablematerial, to interlock therewith.

2. A terminal of the class described formed from flat stock having anaperture for receiving a clamping device, and a plurality of workengaging radial teeth said teeth being positioned wholly within theplane of the connector stock and adapted, when clamped againstimpressionable material, to lockingly engage therewith.

3. A terminal device of the class described formed from flat stockhaving an aperture for receiving a clamping member, and a plurality ofinternal annularly arranged teeth lying wholly within the plane of theterminal stock, said teeth being adapted, when clamped againstimpressionable material, to lockingly engage therewith.

4. A terminal of the class described formed from flat stock having anaperture for receiving a clamping device. and a work engaging toothpositioned wholly within the plane of the terminal stock, said toothbeing constructed of resilient material to efiect the bending of thetooth about its root when clamped in position against the work.

5. In combination with a sheet of impressionable material, an aperturedterminal lar flange which clampingly engages the impressionable materialand another annular flange which clampingly engages said resil ientteeth, one of said flanges having a diameter not greater than thediameter of the circle determined by the roots of said annularlydisposed teeth.

7 In combination with a sheet of impressionable material, an aperturedterminal member of flat spring stock, said member having a plurality ofresilient teeth annularly disposed about said aperture, and acylindrical clamping member extending through said aperture and saidimpressionable materlal, said clamping member having an annular flangewhich clampingly engagesthe impressionable material and another annularfl a nge which clampingly engages said resillent teeth, the diameter ofone of said flanges being less than the diameter of the circledetermined by the roots of said teeth and the diameter of the otherflange being greater than the diameter of said circle.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN M. GRIBBIE.

member. said terminal member having a plu- Y rality of resilient teethadapted to be deflected out of the plane of the terminal stock, and aclamping member extending through said aperture and said impressionablematerial, said clamping member having a flange which clampingly engagesthe impressionable material and a flange which clampingly engages thework engaging teeth, said teeth being deflected out of the plane of thestock in response to the action of said clamping member, theimpressionable material being lodged against opposite edges of saidteeth so as to effectively secure the parts against relative movement.

6. In combination with a sheet of impressionable material, an aperturedterminal member of flat spring stock, said member having a plurality ofresilient teeth annularly disposed about said aperture, and acylindrical clamping member extending through said aperture and saidimpressionable material, said clamping member having an annu-

